Boat-rowing attachment



Dec. 7 1926.

W. A. THIBODEAU BOAT ROWING ATTACHMENT Filed March 24, 1926 why 412m,

Patented Dec. 7, 1926.

users stares WILLIAM A. THIBODEAU, OF JACKMAN, MAINE.

BOAT-ROWING ATTACHMENT.

Application filed March 24, 1926. Serial No. 96,950.

This invention relates to a rowing attachment, comprising a sectional oar composed of two members connected end to end by toothed gear segments attached to the members, a rocking holder to which the segments are independently pivoted, and holder-supporting means detachably secured to a boat, the holder being pivotally mounted on the supporting means, the arrangement being such that the oar may be operated to propel the boat forward by a rower facing the bow.

An attachment characterized as above stated, is disclosed by the Berron Patent, No. 362,369, dated June 23, 1396.

The present invention relates particularly to the supporting means on whichthe rocking oar-holder is pivotally mounted, the object being to provide an improved supporting means, of strong, simple and durable construction, adapted to be quickly and conveniently applied to and removed from a boat, and to firmly support the rocking holder and the sectional oar against all strains incidental to the operation thereof.

Of the accompanying drawings forming a part of this speoification,

Figure 1 shows in side elevation a portion of the gunwale of a boat and oarholder supporting means embodying my improvements, engaged with the gunwale, the rocking holder and the two-part oar being shown in the positions they occupy at the beginning of a stroke, which propels the boat forward.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan view, showing the bow portion of the boat and two rowing attachments engaged with opposite sides of the boat. I

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section on line 4.-4 of Figure 1, showing a split bearing for one of the trunnions hereinafter described, of the rocking holder.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, showing one of the parts of the split bearing displaced.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary section 66 of Figures 1 and 2.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the figures.

The oar includes, as in the Berron patent, a handle member 12, and a blade member 13, arranged end to end, and intermeshing gear segments 12- and 13 attached to the adjacent ends of said members. The gear segon line ments are pivotally connected by pivot bolts 14, 14, with a rocking holder which, in this instance, includes a lower plate 15, and an upper plate 160, spaced from the lower plate by any suitable means, the gear segments bein g interposed between the plates, and adapted to turn freely on the pivot bolts 14. The lower plate 15 is provided with oppositely projecting arms 16, having trunnions 17 'on their outer ends.

I I embody the means supporting the rocking holder in a clamp adapted to be engaged with a side portion, such as a gunwale 18 of the boat, and to support the rocking holder above the gunwale. Said clamp includes two longer 19, which are spaced from each other, as shown by Figure 1, and are substantially vertical when the attachment is in use. In the upper ends of said arms are bearings 20, in which the trunnions 17 are journalled. Fixed to and extending between the lower ends of the arms 19 is an elongated clamping jaw 21, adapted to bear on a side surface of the boat and preferably, on the outer side of the gunwale 18. The lower ends of the arms 19 may be dovetailed, as shown by Figure 6, the jaw 21 having dovetailed slot 22 receiving said ends, bolts 23 being provided to connect the arms with the clamping j aw.

Hinged by a pintle 24, to the longer arms 19, between the ends thereof, are two shorter arms 25. An elongate-d clamping jaw 26 is hinged at 27 to the lower end portions of the shorter arms 25, and extends from one shorter arm to the other, said jaw being adapted to bear on another side surface of the boat, and, preferably, on the inner side of the gunwale. The longer and shorter arms are connected by adjusting bolts 28, having heads 29, seated on the longer arms 19, and nuts 30, adjustably seated on the shorter arms 25. When said nuts are set up against the shorter arms, the clamping jaws are caused to firmly grip the interposed portion of the boat. 1

The clamping jaws 21 and 26 constitute tie members connecting the arms and supporting strains tending to displace said arms lengthwise of the boat. Additional tie members 31, 31 are provided for the same purpose, connecting the longer arms 19 with each other. Said rods are inclined and cross each other, as shown by Figure 1, and are attached at their lower ends to the lower portions of the longer arms by bolts 32, and

(ill

at their upper ends to the. upper portionsot the longer arms by'bolts 3.3. The clamp is therefore strongly braced and adapted to withstand any strains exerted upon it by the oar.

To permit the convenient engagement of the trunnions with their bearings, and separation of the trunnions from the bearings I split the bearing of one of the longer arms,

the upper portion of said bearing being a displaceable section 34,, hinged at '35 to the body portion of the arm, and provided at its swinging end with a detent 86, adapted to be engaged with said body portion, as shown by Figure 4c. When the section 34 is displaced, as shown by Figure 5, the corresponding trunnion may be raised and-the rocking; holder moved endwise, to withdraw the other trunnion from its hearing.

I claim 1. A boat-rowing attachment compris -n an oar composed of two members and intermeshing gear segments fixed to the adjacent ends of the members, a rocking oar holder to which said segments are pivoted, said holder having alined trunnions, and a l1older-supporting clamp adapted to be engaged with a side portion of a boat and support the holder above the gunwale, said clamp including two spaced apart longer arms.

having bearings in their upper ends in which said trunnions are journaled, an elongated clamping jaw fixed to and extending between the lower ends of the longer arms, and

adapted to bear on a surface ot the boat,

shorter arms hinged to the longer arms between the ends of the latter, an elongated elamping jaw pivoted to and extending between the shorter arms, and adapted to bear on an opposite surface of the boat, and jawadjusting' bolts extending' through the longer and shorter arms, and having heads seated on two of the arms, and nuts adjustably seated on the other arms.

2. A boat-rowing: attachment as specified by claim 1, comprising also tie-rods fixed at their ends to the longer arms, and extending across the space therebetween.

3. A boat-rowing attachment as specified by claim 1, the trunnion bearing of one of the longer arms being split and including a hinged displaceable section having means tor releasably securing its swinging end, the displacement of said section permitting the removal of the rocking holder from the clamp.

In testimony whereof I have attixed my signature.

WILLIAM A. THIBODEAU. 

